During the reference period, the RSF controlled the northwestern edges of North Darfur bordering Libya as well as El Fasher (since late October 2025)545 and nearly all areas outside the city, including Zamzam, Melit, Maliha, Koma,546 and Al-Zuruq.547 Southwest of El Fasher, bordering South and Central Darfur states, the Sudan Liberation Movement–Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) held territory around Jebel Mara mountain,548 including the Tawila area.549 The SAF controlled smaller territories around Al-Atrun airbase550 and on the border to Chad,551 including around Al-Tina border crossing.552 As of late July 2026, Al-Tina reportedly remained the last major stronghold of the SAF and the Joint Force in Darfur, following the RSF’s capture of most major towns and cities across the region.553
In North and West Darfur, the main SAF-aligned non-Arab armed groups were SLM-Minnawi554 and JEM-Ibrahim,555 which initially operated under the banner of the Darfur Joint Forces before most joined the SAF, as RSF advances in the region intensified. However, some factions sided with the RSF, while SAF-aligned Darfuri forces were redeployed elsewhere after the fall of El Fasher in October 2025. The Zaghawa Council was among the SAF coalition’s most prominent tribal armed groups and helped preserve its early stronghold in North Darfur. Such groups mainly acted as community militias defending their home areas while supporting the SAF.556 Although predominantly composed of Arab militias, the RSF expanded recruitment among non-Arab militias in Darfur formerly affiliated with the SAF.557 These groups include SAF breakaway factions such as JEM-Sandal558 and SLM-TC-Idris.559 SLM-AW reportedly remained unaligned.560
- 545
Insights SD, The Fall of Al-Fashir and the Beginning of a New Phase in Darfur, 11 November 2025, url
- 546
Sudans Post, Territorial control in Sudan – October 2025, 12 October 2025, url
- 547
Sudans Post, Territorial Control Map – Sudan Conflict (as of June 21, 2026) [Map 1], 22 June 2026, url
- 548
Sudans Post, Territorial Control Map – Sudan Conflict (as of June 21, 2026) [Map 1], 22 June 2026, url; Sudans Post, Territorial control in Sudan – October 2025 [Map 1], 12 October 2025, url
- 549
Sudan Tribune, SLM-AW adopts own flag and anthem in controlled areas, 4 January 2026, url; Darfur 24, Tribal Clash Near Nyala Leaves More Than 17 Dead, Injured, 12 February 2026, url
- 550
Sudans Post, MAP | Territorial Control in Sudan’s Conflict — March 2026, 2 March 2026, url
- 551
Sudans Post, Territorial Control Map – Sudan Conflict (as of June 21, 2026) [Map 1], 22 June 2026, url
- 552
Sudan Watch, Al-Tina in Danger Zone: Widespread Threats Amid Military Escalation and Humanitarian Collapse, 16 April 2026, url
- 553
Darfur 24, Army, RSF reinforce positions near Chad border, 22 July 2026, url
- 554
Sudan Tribune, SLM’s Minawi says not notified of Sudanese army plan to clear Khartoum, 20 July 2025, url
- 555
Sudan Tribune, Sudan’s JEM defends appointments to Al Jazirah project committee, 9 March 2025, url
- 556
Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Mapping the Armed Actors in the Sudan Conflict, 7 July 2026, url
- 557
Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Mapping the Armed Actors in the Sudan Conflict, 7 July 2026, url
- 558
Sudan Tribune, Sudan’s JEM accuses former official of buying looted vehicles from RSF, 3 January 2026, url
- 559
Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Mapping the Armed Actors in the Sudan Conflict, 7 July 2026, url; Sudan Tribune, SLM-TC leader announces plan to evacuate over 100,000 families from El Fasher, 19 April 2025, url
- 560
Egemi, O. and McLean, C., Political Economy Of Cash And Markets In Sudan, RVI, October 2025, url, p. 7; Sudan Tribune, SLM-AW adopts own flag and anthem in controlled areas, 4 January 2026, url